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Sometimes the truth hurts.

Indeed it does.....

NIV John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

NIV John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

NIV John 3:3
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. "

NIV John 3:5
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

NIV John 3:11
I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.

NIV John 5:24-25
24. "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
25. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

NIV John 8:45-46
45. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!
46. Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?

NIV John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

NIV Matthew 5:18
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

NIV Matthew 5:26
I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

NIV Matthew 6:2
"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

NIV Matthew 6:5
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

NIV Matthew 6:16
16. "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

NIV Matthew 8:10
When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

NIV Matthew 10:15
I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

NIV Matthew 10:23
When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

NIV Matthew 11:11
I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

NIV Matthew 13:17
For I tell you the truth,many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

NIV Matthew 16:28
I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

NIV Matthew 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, `Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. "

NIV Matthew 18:3
And he said: "II tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

NIV Matthew 18:13
And if he finds it, I tell you the truth,he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.

NIV Matthew 18:18
"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

NIV Matthew 19:23
Then Jesus said to his disciples, " I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

NIV Matthew 19:28
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

NIV Matthew 21:21
Jesus replied, " I tell you the truth,if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.

NIV Matthew 21:31
"Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.

NIV Matthew 23:36
I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.

NIV Matthew 24:2
"Do you see all these things?" he asked. " I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."

NIV Matthew 24:34
I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

NIV Matthew 24:47
I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

NIV Matthew 25:12
"But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

NIV Matthew 25:40
"The King will reply, ` I tell you the truth,whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

NIV Matthew 25:45
"He will reply, ` I tell you the truth,whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

NIV Matthew 26:13
I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

NIV Matthew 26:21
And while they were eating, he said, " I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."

NIV Matthew 26:34
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."

NIV John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout.
He was waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ, the Messiah.
Moved by the Spirit, Simeon went into the temple courts.

When Mary and Joseph brought the Child Jesus to perform for Him what was required by the custom of the Law,
Simeon took Jesus up in his arms and praised God, saying,

'Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your Salvation,
which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel.'

The Child's father and mother marveled at what was said about Him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His mother,
'This Child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your soul, too.' (Luke 2:25-35)

Simeon had been faithful in his expectation and anticipation of the Promised Messiah.

Are you are preparing to return a gift that you received yesterday for Christmas?

Probably all of us have done so at one time or another in the past.

For whatever reason, some gifts just aren't quite right.

Perhaps you can remember a particularly bad gift or a disappointing Christmas.

Those things do happen sometimes, for a variety of reasons.

Sometimes those "bad" gifts can be returned or exchanged; but sometimes they can not.

That is just the way life is.

What is sad is that some people have come to expect all of their wants and wishes to be met.

And when they are not, or when life isn't exactly like they planned, those people get disappointed and decide to exchange their lives or circumstances or situation for something else.

And an even sadder consequence is - some people apply the same principle to their spiritual lives.

When God doesn't give them whatever they want, or they don't get their way, or when God doesn't answer their prayers just like they designed them, they are disappointed and want something else.

But that doesn't work.

Whatever Simeon expected the Messiah to be, he accepted Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of God's covenant with His people.

Simeon accepted what God chose to provide - which happened to be His perfect plan of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.